Our take

California Forum

Ben Shapiro: Yes, the town that brought you the casting couch and the X-rated film now proclaims that it is the leading edge on behalf of female empowerment. All it took was the worst scandal in modern Hollywood history to make that happen. Hollywood only steps up under pressure, so spare us the star-splaining on morality.

Sasha Abramsky: Let me introduce you to a few people I recently met while on a magazine assignment. They are our neighbors, ordinary Americans in their aspirations and attitudes, whose lives are suddenly, needlessly, being torn apart by the United States government. Donald Trump wants to throw 400,000 of your neighbors out of the country.

Never miss a local story.

Sign up today for a free 30 day free trial of unlimited digital access.

Dan Walters, CALmatters: Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer and former Republican Congressman Doug Ose are polar opposites politically, but have jointly altered dynamics of this year’s California elections. Late last week, Ose, who represented a suburban Sacramento district for several terms, declared that he will run for governor. On Monday, Steyer told a Washington news conference that instead of running for governor or U.S. senator this year, he’s going to spend $30 million on helping his fellow Democrats recapture control of Congress. Both moves increase the likelihood that under California’s top-two primary system, the November elections for governor and senator will be Democrat vs. Democrat affairs.

Take a number: 2

Kamala Harris, California’s junior senator, joined Sen. Dianne Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee, giving California a rarity: two senators on the same important committee.

Their positions should be relevant when President Donald Trump gets around nominating replacements for two California-based slots on the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, one of which opened last month when Alex Kozinski stepped down, plus the eight U.S. district court judgeships.

However, their influence will be limited, unless Democrats retake the Senate in November. Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican, abruptly ended the practice of allowing home state senators, including those from the minority party, to have a voice on judicial appointments.

Their take

San Jose Mercury News: The brutal beating death of Michael Tyree by three guards in the Santa Clara County jail in 2015 set off aftershocks of outrage and a movement for jail reform that persists to this day. Judge David A. Cena’s sentence of Jereh Lubrin, Matt Farris and Rafael Rodriguez for killing the 31-year-old inmate was just: 15 years to life in prison, the maximum allowed under the law. But for awhile last week, it seemed like a slap on the wrist was possible.

Chicago Tribune: President Donald Trump has a chance over the next several days to deliver a punishing blow to Iran’s leaders and its struggling economy. He can refuse to extend U.S. economic sanctions relief that props up the 2015 nuclear deal. That’s a tempting move, particularly as Iran’s leaders violently crack down on anti-government protesters. But Trump should resist the temptation.